Thanks to CB10 for allowing us on to the agenda of the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting of 1/14/2015 at the last minute.  We presented our garden’s situation and had a very production discussion.  Let us know if you would like to volunteer for the effort to save the garden by emailing us electricladybuggarden@gmail.com.  Stay tuned!

Good news (we hope!)

The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has delayed their announcement of new development sites, most likely due to the Electric Ladybug Garden as well as other community gardens immediately raising the issue.  Information on the HPD program can be seen at the link here.

We began communicating our concerns with our elected officials and other contacts within NYC government beginning last year, after we became a licensed GreenThumb garden, as we anticipated that development pressure could easily become an issue.  We are again actively engaging our representatives to preserve the garden.

We will keep update you as soon as we have more information.  Thank you for your support!

—URGENT—URGENT—URGENT—

We just received an update this afternoon that NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will issue a list of sites that are slated for development on Monday January 12, 2015.  HPD confirmed that some of the sites that have been selected do currently have interim use activity happening on them (“interim use activity” often/usually means community gardens).  Currently only 6% of HPD’s approximately 1,000 vacant lots have gardens.  We strongly feel, therefore, that with over 900 vacant lots representing 94% of HPD’s inventory of available land, there is no reason to have the destruction of even one community garden on the table.

What we are doing: We have previously raised the issue of the vulnerability of the lot with elected officials.  We have made the office of Council Member Inez Dickens (our local representative) aware of this issue late last year, and contacted her office again today, 1/9/2015.   We have also discussed this issue with Council Member Mark Levine (Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Parks and Recreation) as well.

What you can do: To start, it’s important to immediately contact the office of Council Member Inez Dickens.  Please send an email to us immediately at electricladybuggarden@gmail.com and we will send you the proper contact information (email and phone number) along with simple draft text to include.  Speak up and let them know that we are watching, and we want the City to preserve our garden for the community!  And don’t forget to “Like” our Facebook page here to get updates on what happens next!

We are extending our Xmas tree drop off at the Electric Ladybug Garden, so just drop off your tree anytime you like at the garden gate. If you live too far away from the garden at 237 West 111th St, please don’t forget that the City is mulching Xmas trees as well. Thanks!

For information on the City’s Mulchfest, just click here:  

2015 is the Year of the Ram in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.  To be more precise: The Goat ( 羊 ) is the eighth sign of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Goatis associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 未. This year may also be referred to as the Year of the Sheep or the Year of the Ram.  And: The Year of the Wood Sheep (Wei) starts on February 19, 2015, and ends on February 7, 2016, in the Gregorian calendar. It comes after the Year of the Horse and before the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese calendar.

Yes, it was very cold, but we had a great time decorating the tree.  Thanks to everyone who helped and all our neighbors who stopped by during the event.  Happy Holidays!

All photos by Michael Palma of www.michaelpalma.com.  Thank you Michael!